After ten years of buying used (like really used) entry-level sedans, my husband and I realized that our driving needs had officially changed. We now had two kids and new standards for both safety and space. And more to the point, we wanted something that just felt more grown-up. Yup, we were in the market for a midsize SUV.
So, when the folks at Ford offered to lend us the 2019 Edge Titanium, we were in. After a week of driving one for school drop-off and grocery runs, through traffic jams and even on a two-hour road trip to the grandparents’ house, here’s what we thought.
money
The Quest for a New Family Car: The Ford Edge Titanium
The price: At $48,000 for the fully loaded version we tested, this is definitely competitive in its class. And while it’s (sadly) a little out of our price range, some dealers will be offering deals now that 2020 models are on the way. Bottom line: For all the features that come with the Titanium (versus the SEL or the SE), this feels like a reasonable spend.
The interior: Hello, leather seats and ample leg room. Granted, we’d been smushed in a 2011 Sonata for the last two years, but this felt like the lap of luxury. We could easily fit two car seats in the back—with space for an adult in between them—and it was remarkably easy to get the kids in and out. Everybody (but especially our four-year-old) loved the panoramic sunroof/moonroof, and my six-foot-tall husband appreciated the extra headroom. Still, it was probably more car than our family of four truly needs, particularly since we live in Brooklyn and park on the street.
The drive: Smooth, quiet and surprisingly zippy for a car of its size. One thing we did notice was that the acceleration was better when you turned off “eco mode,” which, in turn, hurt the gas mileage.
The safety technology: Holy smokes, were we impressed. The intuitive parking assist made it easy to navigate into tight city spots. And the lane assist (to keep you in your highway lane and at a consistent cruising distance from the car in front of you) was on par with that of the Tesla I tested last year. We also felt significantly safer knowing there were side impact airbags and a front and second row safety canopy curtain, which deploys airbags in the event of a rollover. One thing we didn’t love: The car beeps at you every time it detects a vehicle it deems too close, and we found these sensors a hair overreactive.
The other bells and whistles: The Edge is clearly designed with family life in mind. During a trip to the supermarket, we noticed the foot-activated lift gate, which allows you to wave your leg to open the back hatch as long as you have the key on your person (particularly useful when you’re laden with bags) and the interior trunk hooks for hanging those bags on, so they don’t tip over. The remote start system was also pretty cool, although it’s hard to see ourselves really using that too often. Oh! And the sound system! I’m not usually one to care too much about such things, but our 24/7 Disney soundtrack sounded particularly good in the Edge—and we appreciated how easy it was to turn the volume up in the back and down in the front.
The final verdict: The Ford Edge Titanium is a great car, especially for a family with young kids. Although the size and the price are both more than we need, we’re definitely sold on the Ford brand. In fact, next up on the test list: The Ford Escape, which at a smaller size and a starting price of $31,000, just might be everything we need.